Upcoming events


Departmental lecture

External link opens in new tab or windowSelf-assembly of liquid crystal and the challenge for the topological change


Yoshiko Takenaka, PhD

Friday, March 17, 2023, at 10:30 AM in Room 106


 News


Article in Advanced Materials

 February 23, 2023

Luka Pirker and Maja Remškar from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from the University of Regensburg (Germany) published a paper in the journal Advanced Materials with the title External link opens in new tab or windowNon-Destructive Low-Temperature Contacts to MoS2 Nanoribbon and Nanotube Quantum Dots. Read more >>



Article in Physica Status Solidi A

 February 22, 2023

George Cordoyiannis, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from

Belgium and Denmark have published in Physica Status Solidi A the review article External link opens in new tab or windowQCM-D Study of the Formation of Solid-Supported Artificial Lipid Membranes: State-of-the-Art, Recent Advances, and Perspectives. External link opens in new tab or windowRead more >>



The 1st COST NanoSpace Scientific Meeting

 February 20, 2023

The 1st COST External link opens in new tab or windowNanoSpace Scientific Meeting took place at the Jožef Stefan Institute between 9th and 11th of February 2023. The project involves astrophysicists, chemists and material scientists. The main scientific challenges on which we will try to address are (i) What nanocarbon species are present in space and how can we identify them?, (ii) What are the chemical pathways that lead to their formation and destruction?, and (iii) What is the role of nanocarbon species in non-terrestrial environments? Read more>>




Article in Advanced Functional Materials

 February 20, 2023

In recent years, transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have opened a new frontier in the area of field emission devices. Due to their layered structure and the presence of thin and sharp edges with high aspect ratios the local electric field is enhanced which plays an important role in filed emission. Read more >>



Article in Physical Review E

 February 17, 2023

George Cordoyiannis, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from Belgium and UK have published in Physical Review E the article External link opens in new tab or windowPhase transitions study of the liquid crystal DIO with a ferroelectric nematic, a nematic, and an intermediate phase and of mixtures with the ferroelectric nematic compound RM734 by adiabatic scanning calorimetry Read more >>



Article in Nature Communications

 February 16, 2023

The current development of soft shape-memory materials is typically restricted to the synthesis of thin-walled samples, which greatly limits their practical application. Three-dimensional specimens can be produced using complex manufacturing methods, e.g. with additive manufacturing, but these require specialized equipment, while the production output is usually very low. M. Bobnar, N. Derets, S. Umerova, N. Novak, M. Lavrič, G. Cordoyiannis, B. Zalar and A. Rešetič, together with V. Domenici from Italy developed a new composite shape-memory material made from main-chain liquid crystal elastomer microparticles (LCEs) dispersed in a silicone polymer matrix. Read more >>



Strong enhancement of the electric breakdown strength in properly matched polymer blends

 February 14, 2023

One of the major challenges in developing materials for energy storage systems is realizing high energy density while maintaining low dielectric losses. The composite approach, where conductive particles are dispersed in the dielectric matrix, effectively increases the dielectric permittivity but also boosts the losses. An alternative approach is an operation under high electric fields, i.e. increasing the electric breakdown strength (Eb) without increasing the dielectric permittivity. Read more >>



Article in Nano Research

  January 31, 2023

Assistant Professors Uroš Tkalec and Simon Čopar, together with a group of Assistant Professor Xiaoguang Wang from the Ohio State University, published an article External link opens in new tab or windowMagnetocontrollable droplet mobility on liquid crystal-infused porous surfaces in Nano Research. Read more >>



Article in Small

 January 30, 2023

Jampani Venkata Subba Rao, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from Luxembourg have published in Small the article External link opens in new tab or windowContinuous Flow Microfluidic Production of Arbitrarily Long Tubular Liquid Crystal Elastomer Peristaltic Pump Actuators. Read more >>



Article in Scientific Reports

 January 24, 2023

Assistant Professor Anton Gradišek and Professor Tomaž Apih, PhD together with colleagues from Lisbon, Portugal, published a study External link opens in new tab or windowObserving short-range orientational order in small-molecule liquids in the journal Scientific Reports. Read more >>



Article in Particle & Particle Systems Characterization

 January 24, 2023

Abdelrahim Ibrahim Hassanien, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from Germany have published in Particle & Particle Systems Characterization the article External link opens in new tab or windowNeuronal-like Irregular Spiking Dynamics in Highly Volatile Memristive Intermediate-scale AgPt-Nanoparticle Assemblies.

Read more >>



Article in Journal of Apicultural Research

 January 24, 2023

Assistant Professor Anton Gradišek and colleagues published a paper External link opens in new tab or windowBumble bee nest thermoregulation: a field study in Journal of Apicultural Research. They studied six bumblebee colonies of different species using a home-made setup. The study focused on the nest thermoregulation, which is important in order for the larvae to develop properly. Read more >>



Article in Sustainable Energy Fuels

 December 14, 2022

Assistant Professor Anton Gradišek, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from Australia have published  in Sustainable Energy Fuels the article External link opens in new tab or windowHydrated lithium nido-boranes for solid–liquid hybrid batteries. Read more >>



Article in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

 December 14, 2022

Assistant Professor Anton Gradišek, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 and colleagues from the Department of Intelligent Systems E9 and University medical centre Ljubljana have published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine the article External link opens in new tab or windowIdentification of decompensation episodes in chronic heart failure patients based solely on heart sounds. Read more >>



Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrej Zorko was awarded the Excellence in Science 2022 prize 

 December 12, 2022

From 1 to 2 December 2022, the Slovenian Research Agency organized the External link opens in new tab or windowARRS Day 2022: Supporting Excellence at the Grand Hotel Union in Ljubljana. This is a traditional event, which also included the awarding of the Excellence in Science 2022 prizes for the best research achievements in the previous year. Read more >>



Dr. Žiga Kos received the Award for top research achievement from University of Ljubljana in 2022

  December 10, 2022

Dr Žiga Kos, a member of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 at the Jožef Stefan Institute and Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at University of Ljubljana, received the Top research achievent award for his paper titled External link opens in new tab or windowNematic bits and universal logic gates. Žiga Kos showed in collaboration with Jörn Dunkel that topological defects in nematic fluids can be used as computational elements (nematic bits). Read more >>



Article in Applied Physics Letters

 December 10, 2022

Professor Vid Bobnar, PhD from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5, researchers from the Advanced Materials Department K9, and researchers from France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have published in Applied Physics Letters the article External link opens in new tab or windowLarge imprint in epitaxial 0.67Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.33PbTiO3 thin films for piezoelectric energy harvesting applications. Read more >>

 


Dr. Matjaž Gomilšek received the Ceremonial Charter for Young University Teachers and Associates

 December 7, 2022

As part of the University of Ljubljana Week 2022 dr. Matjaž Gomilšek, a member of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 at the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana, received the Ceremonial Charter for Young University Teachers and Associates. Read more >>



Article in Nature Communications
 December 2, 2022
Turbulent flows in active nematic liquid crystals lead to spontaneous topological defect creation. Researchers Maruša Mur, Žiga Kos, Miha Ravnik and Igor Muševič from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the Jožef Stefan Institute and Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana have published a paper in Nature Communications, titled External link opens in new tab or windowContinuous generation of topological defects in a passively driven nematic liquid crystal, where they study a similar behavior in a passively driven system. Read more >>


European C-MetAC Days 2022

 December 1, 2022

During November 21-24, 2022, the international conference “European C-MetAC Days 2022” took place in Split, Croatia. The conference is organized annually by the European Integrated Center for the Development of New Metallic Alloys and Compounds, a legal successor of the European network of Excellence »Complex Metallic Alloys – CMA« from the 7th EU Framework program. A member of the European C-MetAC is also the Condensed Matter Physics Department of the Jožef Stefan Institute. Read more >>



Article in Advanced Materials Interfaces
 November 24, 2022
Members of the Condensed Matter Physics Department dr. Jože Luzar, assist. prof. Stanislav Vrtnik, dr. Primož Koželj, dr. Andreja Jelen, dr. Magdalena Wencka, Darja Gačnik, Peter Mihor, prof. Janez Dolinšek and the member of the Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology dr. Bojan Ambrožič, together with the colleagues from the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the Ljubljana University, National Institute of Chemistry and the Slovak University of Technology in Trnava, Slovakia, have discovered the first »supersilent« high-entropy alloys for alternating-current applications. Read more >>


Asst. Prof. Matjaž Humar received the Blinc Award for physicists at the beginning of their career
 November 24, 2022
On October 26, 2022, the "Jožef Stefan" Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, awarded the fourth Blinc Award for research and professional work in the field of physics.
Asst. Prof. Matjaž Humar, associate of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5, was awarded the Blinc Award for physicists at the beginning of their career.



Prizes of Dr. Uroš Seljak Prizes for the best scientific publications by students were awarded to F5 coworkers
 November 24, 2022
On 4 October 2022, the Prizes of Dr. Uroš Seljak Prizes for the best scientific publications by students were awarded for the first time at the University of Ljubljana. The prizes were awarded by the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, donor Dr. Uroš Seljak, University of Ljubljana and the American-Slovenian Educational Foundation (ASEF). Read more >>

 





De Gennes Award 2022 goes to prof. dr. Slobodan Žumer

August 8, 2022

Prof. dr. Slobodan Žumer was awarded the de Gennes Award at the International Liquid Crystal Conference 2022, which took place from July 24 to July 29 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. This is the highest recognition awarded by the International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS). Professor Žumer is an exceptional theoretician, pedagogue, co-worker, mentor and former ILCS president whose contributions were extremely important for the impressive development of the field of liquid crystal research. Read more >>


 





Andrej Zorko is the recipient of the 2022 Science Impact Award

July 6, 2022

Andrej Zorko from the Department of Condensed Matter Physic is the recipient of the External link opens in new tab or window2022 Science Impact Award for his work on quantum spin liquids. This award is given annually by the Science and Technology Facilities Council from the United Kingdom to celebrate the scientific impact of the research conducted at the ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory large-scale user facility in the last five years. Read more >>







Paper in Nature Communication

March 13, 2022

Researchers Aljaž Kavčič, dr. Maja Garvas, Matevž Marinčič and doc. dr. Matjaž Humar from the F5 department and dr. Boris Majaron from the F7 department of the Jožef Stefan Institute have, in collaboration with researchers from Graz University, published a paper in Nature Communications entitled External link opens in new tab or windowDeep tissue localization and sensing using optical microcavity probes. Read more >>


 





Article in Nature Materials

January 5, 2022

Associates of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics Tina Arh, Matej Pregelj, pHD, and prof. Andrej Zorko pHD, discovered the first realization of a quantum spin liquid on a Ising triangular-lattice antiferromagnet. They performed a large scale experimental study in collaboration with the researchers from the Slovenian Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics as well as researchers from India, Great Britain, France and the USA. The results were published in Nature Materials in the article External link opens in new tab or windowThe Ising triangular-lattice antiferromagnet neodymium heptatantalate as a quantum spin liquid candidate. In addition to being a significant scientific discovery, this discovery also has an important potential for the latest quantum technologies, as spin liquids are seen as one of the most perspective platforms in quantum computing. Read more >>